Bradford's Premier dream is over

John Hartson has repeated his determination to stick with Coventry in the First Division - and that will be music to manager Gordon Strachan's ears.

The 26-year-old striker played a largely peripheral role on Saturday as the Sky Blues' season ground to a halt with an instantly forgettable goalless draw against Bradford. But as Coventry turn to face the prospect of a first season outside the top flight in 34 years, Hartson said: 'I owe a lot to Coventry because they took a chance on me when there were a lot of clubs that didn't want to know.

'I have never said I want to go - and I love it here. When I have left other clubs it has been a case of the club opting to sell me rather than me asking to move on.

'I have managed to regain my fitness and score goals at the highest level again.' Strachan, who knows the importance of holding on to his best players if his side are to make an immediate return to the Premiership, said: 'I'm trying to keep as many good players as possible - that's the secret of getting out of that league.' Strachan had already received a boost prior to the Bradford bore draw when all his squad resisted the chance to request a move. 'Last week I asked them that if anybody had any problems whatsoever with staying here and playing in the First Division next

year speak to me now,' he said. 'I said to them "You've got seven days to do it, if not we'll leave it at that".

'Nobody came to see me, so we're all right that way. So if you hear any rumours about people being unsettled it's untrue, because they've said to my face that they're not unsettled.' Bradford's mercurial Italian Benito Carbone may also be around to sample the grit and struggle of Nationwide League football. Carbone, reputed to be picking up a weekly wage of around £40,000, had appeared to be the first name on the exit list.

But though admitting he was keeping his eyes open for a move during the summer, Carbone claimed he was prepared to stick it out in Jim Jeffries' squad. He said: 'I'm still a Bradford player for another three years, so if nothing happens in the summer I will come back here. 'Everybody knows I nearly went to Middlesbrough, but at the moment I am just thinking of having a quiet six-week holiday.'